Program leads to millions in medicare savings in West Alabama

DCH Regional Medical Center is pictured in this April 23, 2012 file photo.

Dusty Compton | Tuscaloosa News

By Lydia Seabol AvantStaff Writer

Published: Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 1:30 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 1:30 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | In 2010, health classes were offered in Tuscaloosa and surrounding West Alabama counties to help educate senior citizens in an effort to reduce hospital re-admissions.

As part of the pilot project, participants were taught about keeping a personal health record of all their medications and doctor's appointments, about the importance of monitoring blood sugar for diabetes and the importance of a healthy diet and exercise. It may seem simple — but, apparently, the project worked better than expected — saving almost $33 million in Medicare costs in the West Alabama area alone.

Hospitalizations and re-admissions among Medicare patients in Tuscaloosa County declined twice as much as in other communities where the classes and interventions weren't offered.

West Alabama was one of 14 areas nationwide that participated in the pilot program. The re-admission rates at DCH Regional Medical Center dropped 9.66 percent — far lower than any other pilot community being tested, according to AQAF, Alabama's Medicare quality Improvement Organization. On average, the 14 communities that offered the classes saw an average of 5.7 percent reduction in re-hospitalizations and a 5.74 percent reduction in hospitalizations. In Tuscaloosa, hospitalizations among the Medicare patients dropped 8.71 percent.

The findings of the pilot program were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association last month.

Tuscaloosa's reductions equate to about 600 fewer re-hospitalizations, and a cost savings to Medicare of about $5.57 million. The 2,840 hospitalizations that were "avoided" saved Medicare about $27.26 million from the Tuscaloosa area alone.

Project leaders were confident that the study would be successful, but it was only successful because it was a community effort, said Michael Jones, communications director for AQAF.

"Community partners like DCH were the linchpin in the whole project," Jones said. "It turned out well, because it really was a community effort, it was the community working together on this."

The pilot program classes ended in 2010, although similar programs may be offered through hospitals and senior citizen centers across the state, Jones said. The biggest impact of the study is that the results show what works and similar programs being used across the country.

"That's the legacy of a project like that," Jones said. "The good part of the story is that the work just doesn't end."

<p>TUSCALOOSA | In 2010, health classes were offered in Tuscaloosa and surrounding West Alabama counties to help educate senior citizens in an effort to reduce hospital re-admissions. </p><p>As part of the pilot project, participants were taught about keeping a personal health record of all their medications and doctor's appointments, about the importance of monitoring blood sugar for diabetes and the importance of a healthy diet and exercise. It may seem simple — but, apparently, the project worked better than expected — saving almost $33 million in Medicare costs in the West Alabama area alone. </p><p>Hospitalizations and re-admissions among Medicare patients in Tuscaloosa County declined twice as much as in other communities where the classes and interventions weren't offered. </p><p>West Alabama was one of 14 areas nationwide that participated in the pilot program. The re-admission rates at DCH Regional Medical Center dropped 9.66 percent — far lower than any other pilot community being tested, according to AQAF, Alabama's Medicare quality Improvement Organization. On average, the 14 communities that offered the classes saw an average of 5.7 percent reduction in re-hospitalizations and a 5.74 percent reduction in hospitalizations. In Tuscaloosa, hospitalizations among the Medicare patients dropped 8.71 percent. </p><p>The findings of the pilot program were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association last month. </p><p>Tuscaloosa's reductions equate to about 600 fewer re-hospitalizations, and a cost savings to Medicare of about $5.57 million. The 2,840 hospitalizations that were "avoided" saved Medicare about $27.26 million from the Tuscaloosa area alone. </p><p>Project leaders were confident that the study would be successful, but it was only successful because it was a community effort, said Michael Jones, communications director for AQAF. </p><p>"Community partners like DCH were the linchpin in the whole project," Jones said. "It turned out well, because it really was a community effort, it was the community working together on this."</p><p>The pilot program classes ended in 2010, although similar programs may be offered through hospitals and senior citizen centers across the state, Jones said. The biggest impact of the study is that the results show what works and similar programs being used across the country.</p><p>"That's the legacy of a project like that," Jones said. "The good part of the story is that the work just doesn't end."</p><p>Reach Lydia Seabol Avant at 205-722-0222 or lydia.seabolavant@tuscaloosanews.com.</p>